Adolescence
From WikEd
Descriptions, definitions, synonyms, organizer terms, types of
According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, adolescence is:
- 1 : the state or process of growing up
- 2 : the period of life from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority
- 3 : a stage of development prior to maturity
- 4 : Adolecence occur on the average from age 10 until 20
- The definition of the term "adolescence" means the period of development marked at the beginning by the onset of puberty and at the end by the attainment of psychological or pshchological maturity. However, the onset of puberty and the attainment of maturity are effectively impossible to specify precisely, thus the aforementioned description of the term is much less precise (Reber & Reber, 2001,p.13).
Adolescence is defined by the psychosocial crisis of identity versus role diffusion. Identity development is believed to require the development of a separate or individuated sense of self. Research suggests that recreation agencies, as well as extracurricular activities in schools, play an important role in the identity development of teens (Jackson & Burton, 1999, p.261).
What Adolescents Need
- 1. Limits set-What is safe and acceptable and what is not? What are the consequences? No second chances. Eliminate as much gray area as possible
- 2. Discipline which carries over into every area of their lives. Discipline should be consistent and fair.
- 3. Positive role models- How do you handle stress, celebration, social life?
- 4. The opportunity to honestly express their feelings and thoughts.
- 5. Permission to fail and return, not necessarily acceptance of the behavior but acceptance of the child and tolerance for mistakes.
- 6. The opportunity to laugh.
- 7. Opportunities to be successful in school, at home, in the community, with peers, etc. Encourage them.
- 8. Structured family activities, church, meals,etc.
- 9. Consistency with friends, school policy, parents, rules and regulations.
- 10. Accurate information about drugs and alcohol; also about crime, sexuality, and other areas which might promote fear.
- 11. Honest communication with parents and other adults.
- 12. Support from important adults in their lives and from peers.
- 13. To be trusted by important adults.
- 14. Genuine commitment from families and friends.
- 15. To be encouraged to be responsible.
- 16. To be respected. Treat them like you treat your friends.
- 17. To be touched. It is incredible that we need a bumper sticker to remind us to hug our kids!
- 18. LOVE. Have you told them you love them today?
Author Unknown
Application in and effects on classrooms and similar settings
Because adolescents are hovering in between immaturity and independence, special classroom considerations are critical to their development. One of the most important things to remember is that students this age need to be granted autonomy in some areas, but in others, which are most important to the teacher, they must be guided. Students in middle school need rules set for behavior. Even at this age, they appreciate appropriate consequences for behavior. Some teachers may even choose to allow students to help build their own set of classroom rules in the beginning of the year. With the guidance of the teacher, this may indeed be possible.
An interesting article in Teaching Matters Magazine points out that smaller classrooms are very effective in Middle School, almost more so than elementary. The writing points out that at a time when students need to connect to their teacher, they actually spend very little time with any one teacher. A suggested solution for this is to create a team of two teachers for every child that will get to know him/her the best. The result will be adults that the child has regular contact with and develop a trusting relationship."Social Guidance/ Modeling I think if you take two quality teachers who see students every day and gve them the responsibility and time to socialize and teach/model positive social interaction between males and females, less students will fall through the ever widening cracks. Taking a step back from intense curriculum and high stakes testing to concentrate on individuals may be the solution we are looking for. Perhaps middle school can be a time for students struggling not only academically but socially/ emotionally to catch up instead of falling further behind."
In middle childhood and adolescence extrinsic motivations dominate (e.g. grades in school, winning in games and sport, getting a job and making more money). The psychosocial preoccupations of these ages include concerns about being competent, developing a positive identity or sense of self (Jackson & Burton, 1999. p. 260). This may act as a means through which personnel in school settings tap into the motivating factors of adolescents.
Evidence of effectiveness
Critics and their rationale
Alternative explanations due to Diversity considerations
Something to consider when looking at the diversity in adolescence is the relationship between peers in African-American culture when students display their talent in school. By talent, I mean their ability to achieve high grades in classes such as science or language arts, yet hide this ability or are ashamed of it. Is it because they will get teased and be pushed out of their peer group? Could this be because this particular cultural group displays strength and attention through verbal excess and visual extravagance. Less attention seems to be placed on education and knowledge while more is put on physical talent and money. This seems to be a growing research area it Educational Psychology and perhaps, something to look further into.
Signed "life experiences", testimonies and stories
For some reason, I think everyone can remember this time period in their life. For me, it sticks out quite clearly. A time of trying to fit in, find a place to belong, and many changes in friendships. I distinctly remember the day my best friend told me she didn't want to be my friend anymore. This was completely out of the blue and without reason. Maybe this experience is what led me to be a middle school teacher...I try and make the best of it for these youngsters!--J. Cappa
Why was junior high such a superficial time period? At my junior high there were a lot clicks, but one thing usually brought everyone together. These were our school dances. Isn’t that weird, but it is true. Everyone showed up for these events and it was the one time that all types of students could relax and have a good time. The dances were so popular that the students held special event to raise money to have more then we were allotted. Our school dances were usually theme based and voted on by the students. Even the teachers seemed to have a good time at these things. I watch the 80’s movie like Sixteen Candles and think that I rarely remember people sitting on the bleachers bored or not dancing. Perhaps, I was in my own world, but I was thankful for the junior high school dances! -TYM
This was probably the most tumultuous time of my life. I am not sure if it was all the things I was having to go through at the time or just my hormones. My daughter is just fourteen and I am searching for ways to make this time less stressful for her. --V. Munds
I was an ambitious adolescent. I thought that I could not get things fast enough which led me to trouble---Claude
Adolescence was a hard time for myself. I experienced my parents divorce during this time which made it even more unbearable. I never thought I would make it through it.--M.Hicks
Adolescence was fun and difficult at the same time. It was stressful and I am happy that I have grown older. But I will always stay young!!--F.Autenrieth
Looking back on my adolescence I have realized how right most stereotypes on teenagers are. I was very rebellious and disrespectful to my parents. I was incredibly moody and never wanted to be home. As of yet, it has been the hardest time of my life! ---S. Peduzzi
I think adolescence is a real tough period of life because adult have to take multiple aspects of responsibilities, such as family, marriage, workforce, and everyday lives. Thus, a adult has to face many challenges which may come from family and workforce, and everyday lives. For example, how to make a balance between work and family would be a common challenge. However, since an adult has been educated from schools and prepared some basic skill for life, s/he is also able to obtain social supports and encouragements from family and friends to go through the challenges. Moreover, an adult can make a good life by efforts if s/he has well-developed personality and emotional intelligence.---H. M. E. Huang
In the high school setting I think that adolescence is a very difficult time because all the different students regardless of sex or age are all changing and maturing at different times. I think it is really hard for some kids who are hardly developing to see a peer that is fully developed. Another issue is the types of labels students get. From geek to jock to being considered an alternative dressing kid.-- Brian Bucciarelli
The reason why I enjoy teaching middle school so much is because during the time of my own adolescence, I found it both difficult and enjoyable. A lot of the time I found myself worrying about what other people thought of me and thinking that everyone is talking about me. Really, that was not the case at all and it was just me going through my own adolescent phase. I know that many of my students probably feel the same way because whenever I have my language arts students write a journal on the topic "What I Think My Friends Do When I'm Not Around," most of them say they think their friends are talking about them. Now that I teach middle school it's nice to share some of my own experiences with my students so they can relate to me and I to them. ~K. Kleckauskas
I have few detailed memories of my adolescent life. I do remember the highs and lows of emotions and thinking that I was the center of everyone's universe. Because this stage has been mostly forgotten, I feel that it is a good sign that most go through this period of turmoil and come out with few permenant scars. Over the past few years I have been experiencing adolescence from the parents perspective. This too, is no easy road to travel. Actually being the bad guy, that is so dumb, is at times very difficult. I'm sure I didn't treat my parents this badly during my passage into adulthood. I do however, know that my children and I will arrive on the other side of this journey and we will all be better because of it. -- Merna Youngblood
What fascnates me the most about adolescence is that everyone (parents, teachers, society in general) knows that it will happen-- young teens will go through a period of at least some insecurities, changes, turmoil, and stress-- but NONE of us have any idea how individual teens will react to these changes. We can predict all we want, but every person is different, and as a result every teen reacts to the period of adolescence differently. --David Roth
Adolescence was interesting...I just didn't feel like I fit anywhere....and that everyone else did! If it hadn't been for key people in my life during that time I don't think I would have ever made it through those years. My mother is an angel because no matter how horrible we treated her during adolescence she still loved us and treated us kindly most of the time. My youth leader at church was really patient and understanding during adolescence. She was a sounding board and someone who wasn't my mom. She was also someone who asked difficult questions about my experiences and demanded honest answers which provided accountability for me. I hope to be able to help some teenager understand that they will survive and that life gets better after adolescence. Candace Hatchett
Adolescence for me was a fairly smooth experience. There was definitely not much storm and stress. I fought with my parents occasionally, but overall I had a good relationship with them. I also had friends who did not participate in risky behaviors so neither did I. Therefore, I feel like some of the stereotypes of adolescents definitely do not fit all adolescents. Bethany Harnden
For those interested in a fascintaing study on real-life teenagers and their stories, check out Patricia Hersch's "A Tribe Apart." It's a WONDERFUL non-fictional book. --David Roth
The thing I remember most vividly about adolescence is that it was hard to feel like I was both a child and an adult. Sometimes I was expected to take on additional responsibilities, and other times I was not allowed to participate in adult activities. I think it is important for educators to remember that adolescence is a very difficult period for many of their adolescent students. Some of my most meaningful experiences with teaches came when they acknowledged that it is hard to be a student, and that adolescence was only a small period in my life. It is important to have people who can help you put things in perspective, and teachers can do a lot for students in that regard. –Jeremiah Johnson
I teach middle school students and I have a toddler and a 14 year old stepson. It's pretty remarkable how similar the toddler and teenager are. They are both seeking independence, they both need limits, both craving attention, both going through rapid developmental changes. I'm intrigued by Teaching Matters Magazine's suggestion that students in middle school need fewer teachers so they can develop better relationships with fewer adults. What a wonderful world that would be, but unfortunately we can barely afford the teachers we have, no school has the space and the money to hire enough teachers to decrease class size and increase staff size. A recommended video, "Middleschool Confessions"...scary insight to the peer pressures that adolescents face. - J.Adams
Adolescence is truly an age of change. I believe it is probably one of the hardest ages to teach. Many teachers would not choose this age to educate. As a junior high teacher (for many years) I find it a wonderful age to work with. I guess 7th grade is the most difficult for the adolescent. Physical changes occur. Social and emotional changes are at a peak. I feel that if a student can be successful in 7th grade that once 8th grade comes around life will be a whole lot smoother. The adolescent stage teaches skills needed for later life. Teacher, parent and peer involvement will help the adolescent period to be a success. - Ann Harty
When I look at my own adolescent children I think to myself, “Do they even know what a wonderful time they are having?” Only until you are an adult do you covet your time as a child. I know I did not fully appreciate my adolescence. S. Nottoli
References and other links of interest
Jackson, E. & Burton, T. eds. (1999). "Leisure Studies: prospects for the 21st Century". State College, Pennsylvania: Venture Publishing, Inc.
Reber, A. S. & Reber, E. (2001). The Penguin dictionary of psychology (3rd ed.). London, Penguin Books Ltd., England.
[1] Teaching Matters
